SOCIAL WELFARE
105
The Public Assistance Scheme is designed to provide cash assistance to needy families and individuals whose income falls below a prescribed level. A review of the scheme was undertaken during the year in the light of increases in the cost living and improvements were effected in July 1973. These improvements included an 11 per cent increase in the scale of assistance, higher allowances for rents and more generous allowances for savings and capital assets. As from July 1973 the monthly scale of assistance was raised from $110 to $120 for a single person; and for members of a family, from $80 to $90 for each of the first three members, from $65 to $70 for each of the next three, and from $50 to $55 for each additional member. Under the revised criteria the number of active cases at the end of 1973 stood at 25,009 compared with 17,728 the previous year. Expenditure on public assistance payments for the financial year 1973-4 was $43 million compared with $30.5 million in the financial year 1972-3.
The Disability and Infirmity Allowance Scheme was introduced on April 1, 1973. It is designed to provide cash assistance on a non-means-tested and non- contributory basis to the severely disabled and the elderly infirm-those aged 75 and over who are not in residential institutional care. The scale of assistance is the same as the public assistance rate for a single person and receipt of these allowances does not detract from entitlement to public assistance. Under the scheme, a severely disabled person is entitled to the full rate-$120 a month—and an elderly infirm person is entitled to half the rate of assistance-$60 a month. At the end of the year the number of cases stood at 39,016. Expenditure on disability and infirmity allowance payments for the financial year 1973-4 is estimated to be $25.3 million.
Both the Public Assistance Scheme and the Disability and Infirmity Allowance Scheme are reviewed regularly in the light of the cost of living. In addition to the 11 per cent increase in the rates introduced in July 1973 a further substantial increase of 21 per cent is to be introduced on January 1, 1974.
The Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Scheme set up on June 1, 1973 is a non-means-tested and non-contributory scheme designed to provide compensation to those who are injured, disabled or killed as a direct or indirect result of a crime of violence. Also to those who are accidentally injured, disabled or killed by a law enforcement officer in the execution of his duty. The scheme is admin- istered by two separate boards, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and the Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Board whose members are appointed by the Governor. At the end of the year compensation was awarded to a total of 109 cases and expenditure on payments stood at $500,000.
Emergency Relief
Emergency relief provided by the Social Welfare Department was on a much smaller scale than last year because in 1973 there was no major disaster. Nonetheless, 144 minor natural disasters resulting from various elements including typhoons, fires, and rainstorms, occurred and a total of 8,546 victims were registered with the department. They were provided with emergency relief-hot meals, temporary accommodation, blankets and clothing as well as financial aid from the Emergency